I^ITUH  r'dd  (*  + 


Ta\CT    FOR    SOLDIERS.]  ]^0.     18. 

A  MOTHER'S  PARTING  WORDS 

TO  HER  SOLDIER  ROY. 


Mr  Dear  Son;  — 

At  the  time  of  oursopaiation,  my  hoart  was  too  teu- 
<1erly  and  deeply  uffccfed  to  permit  me  to  give  uiierauce  to  the 
words  of  affjcLionatc  couuscl,  which  I  longed  Lopoar  into  your 
car.  My  min^le.l  emotions  of  love,  grief,  and  anxiety  could 
find  vc;ii  only  in  tcara.  But  l  have  concluded  in  this  manner 
to  transmit  to  you  the  words  of  inslru?t'on,  warning  and  encour- 
agement, which  I  should  have  preferred  to  speak  to  you  with 
my  lips,  h:id  not  th'^  feelinj^s  awakened  by  3''our  departure  for 
the  army,  overpowered  my  self-control.  Ton  need  not  be  told 
that  I  love  you,  tint  I  chcrisli  a  deep  solicitude  for  your  welfare, 
and  that  my  happiness  is  bound  up  with  your  prosperity.  1 
have  a  claim  to  3'our  attention  which  T  am  sure  your  filial  af- 
fection will  not  allow  you  to  disregard. 

I  gave  up  my  son,  without  reluctance,  indeed,  I  may  say 
with  joy,  to  enter  the  army  of  his-country.  The  war  in  which 
we  are  unfortunately  involved,  has  been  forced  upon  us.  VTe 
have  askcdfor  nothing  but  to  be  let  alone.  We  are  contending 
for  the  great  fundamental  principle  of  the  American  Revolution: 
that  all  authority  is  derived  from  the  consent  of  the  governed. 
The  attempt  on  tho  part  of  the  Federal  Government  to  coerce, 
not,  as  it  is  f^ilsely  pretended,  a  factious  party,  but  free  and 
independent  vStates,  governed  by  unprecedented  majorities,  is 
utterly  subversive  of  republican  government.  The  question  to 
be  settled  by  this  conflict  is,  whether  the  Confederate  States 
shall  be  permitted  to  govern  themselves,  or  whether  they  shall 
begovernsd  by  States  whose  political  views,  and  social  institut' 
ions,  are  widely  diftereut  from  their  own.  To  the  South  no- 
thing remaina  but  absolute    subjugation  and  debasement,  or 


2  A  mothee's  parting  words 

victoiy.     Ill  such  a  strife,  I  cheerfully  oflfor  my  son,   the  cher- 
ished jewel  of  my  heart,  on   my   country's  altar;  and  if  1  had 
ten  sons,  I  wouid  resign  them  all  with  equal  pleasure.     I  trust 
that  my  son  will  act  the  mah.     Fighting,  as  he  is,  for  indepen- 
dence, home,  ho'tior,  everything  dear  to  the  iieart  of  a  freeman, 
he  would  be  unworthy  of  the  soil  that  gave  him  birth — the  land 
of  patriots  and  heroes — the  father  whose  name  he  bears,  and 
the  mother  who  nursed  him,  if  he  should  not  prove  himself  to 
be  ioyal  and  brave.  Let  me  urge  you,  then,  ray  son,  to  be  what  I 
am  sure  you  will  be,  a  good  soldier.     Obey  the  commands  of 
your  superiors,  be  courteous  to  your  equals,  and  be  kind  to  the 
distressed,  even  to  your  enemies,  so  far  as  you  mny  be  without 
strengthening  the  cause  in  which  they  are  engaged. 

But  I  write  to  you  chiefly,  my  boy,  to  impress  on  your  heart 
the  importance  of  enlisting  under  the  banner  of  the  Cross. 
The  searcher  of  hearts  knows  that  my  greatest  desire  is,  that 
you  should  be  a  sincere  and  lonsistent  Christian.  I  have  feebly 
endeavored  by  my  instructions,  prayers  and  example,  to  win  you 
to  the  service  of  Christ.  You  may  havethoughtit  strange  that 
1  have  conversed  directly  with  you  so  httle  concerning  your 
religious  state  and  destiny.  I  desire  to  confess  to  you,  and  with 
shame  before  God,  my  deflciencj  in  this  respect.  I  have  ever 
found  a  difficulty  in  speaking  to  my  children  on  the  subject  of 
salvation,  arising  from  I  know  not  what  else  but  timidity,  that 
has  caused  me  great  sorrow,  and  especially  since  you  have  pas- 
sed to  the  dangers  of  the  tented  field,  and  beyond  the  veach  of 
my  anxious,  beseeching  words.  Forgive  me  this  wrong,  and  ac- 
cept this  communication  as  the  best  atonement  which  under  the 
circum-tances,  I  can  offer.  I  feel  now,  that  if  I  could  see  you,  I 
would,  from  the  fulness  of  my  fond  and  bui'dened  heart,  entreat 
you  in  such  words  as  follow : 

You  did  not  cease  to  be  a  moral  agent  when  you  became  a 
soldier.  Assuming  new  responsibilities  to  your  country,  you 
did  not  weaken  your  responsibilities  to  God.  You  should  oot 
only  render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's  but  unto 
God  the  thini^s  that  are  God's.  Many  good  and  intelligent 
men  have  maintained  that  a  profession  of  arms  is  incooi- 
patible  with  a  life  of  piety.  It  must  ba  conceded  that  the  genius 
and  spirit  of  Christianity  are  utterly  opposed  to  war.  Christ 
lethePrinc*  of  peace;  at  hi&  biitb  the  heavenly  host  sang 


TO     HER    SOLDIER     BOT.  "^  ;; 

"peace  on  earth;"  tho  Gospel  is  a  message  of  peace,  and  its  un- 
iversal diffusion  and  influence  will  banish  war  from  the  earth, 
tsa.  11.  2-4.  But  a  careful  examination  of  the  Scriptures  must 
convince  us,  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  demands  of  a  just  and 
defensive  warfare  at  variance  with  the  spirit  and  duties  of 
Christianity.  To  say  nothing  of  Moses,  Joshua  and  David,  who 
were  renowned  alike' for  their  piety  and  their  military  achieve- 
ments, we  find  that  several  Roman  Centurions,  in  the  very  sun- 
light of  the  Apostolic  age,  were  comnended  for  their  faith,  de- 
votion, and  good  works.  Lu.  VII,  9.  Acts  X.  John,  the  fear- 
less harbinger  of  Christ,  exhorted  the  Roman  soldiers,  not  to 
abandon  their  standards,  but  to  avoid  the  vices  incident  to  their 
profession.  "  Do  violence,"  said  he,  "to  no  man,  neither  accuse 
any  faleely  ;  ar.d  be  content  with  your  wages."  Lu.  Ill,  14.  I  re- 
fer to  these  texts  for  the  twofold  purpose  of  confirming  my 
views,  and  leading  you  to  consult  the  Scriptures,  the  only  safe 
guide  in  faith  and  practice.  , 

There  are  great  and  appalling  obstacles  in  the  way  of  your 
conversion  amid  the  din  and  temptations  of  a  camp.  The  lack 
of  religious  instruction,  and  of  opportunities  for  retirement  and 
secret  prayer,  together  with  the  excitements  and  corrupting 
influences  which  attend  a  soldiei's  life,  are  serious  but  not  in- 
superable hindrances  to  piety.  Without  abating  one  iota  from 
his  dutiei  to  the  country,  the  soldier  may  find  time  forreligious 
meditation,  secret  prayer,  and  the  consecration  of  himself  to 
Christ.  Two  young  men,  I  have  been  credibly  informed,  at  the 
close  of  the  baUle  of  Bethel,  were  so  impressed  with  the  Divine 
goodness  in  their  preservation,  that  they  retired  to  the  forest, 
and  made  a  full,  solemi)  and  joyful  surrender  of  themselves  to 
the  Prince  of  peace. 

Let  me  urge  you  then,  my  dear  son,  to  mnke  it  your  first, 
chief,  cons' ant  concern  to  become  a  Christian.  God  demands  no 
thing  but  a  willing  heart.  In  the  hour  when  you  are  willing  to 
forsake  all  your  si^ns,  and  to  receive  Christ  as  your  Piophet, 
Priest  and  King  vou  shall  find  mercy,  and  there  will  be  joy  in 
the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  you.  Clirist  never  reject- 
ed a  repeating  sinner,  and  he  never  will.  Ah,  my  son,  if  you 
have  no  soul  to  save,— no  sins  to  be  fprgiven,  if  Christ  did  not 
die  for  T0U,-~if  there  h  no  Heaven,  no  hell,  no  in^mortality,— 
then  vou  may  live  without  repentance  and  salvation.     But  you 


*  A    MOTHERS    PARIING    WOKD& 

have  a  soul — you  are  a  sinner — Christ  shed  his  blood  for  you — 
you  are  immortal,  and  destined  to  the  joys  of  Heaven  or  the 
woes  of  perdition,  and  therefore,  religion  is  your  Rirpreme  ne- 
cessity. You  have  motives  to  piety,-  not  only  as  a  man,  but  as 
a  soldier.     Of  all  men  the  Foldier  has  the  greater  need  of  piety. 

Under  the  privations  nnd  hardships  of  camp  life,  he  greatly 
needs  the  consolations  that  nothing  but  grace  can  minister. 
And,  what  but  grace  can  preserve  him  from  the  seductions  to 
vice  by  which  so  many  promising  soldiers  have  been  ruined  ? 
He  is  in  frequent  peril  of  losing  his  life,  and  should  have  that 
constant  preparation  for  death,  which  can  bo  found  only  in  sin- 
cere devotion  to  Christ.  Let  me  urge  you  theji,  my  child,  by 
all  the  tenderness  of  a  mother's  love,  by  all  the  anxieties  of  a. 
father's  heart,  and  by,  what  should  have  more  influence  with 
you,  all  the  compassion  of  the  Redeemer's  bosom,  to  enlist  un- 
der the  banner  of  the  Prince  of  life  and  glory. 

You  must,  my  dear  boy,  be  a  Christian  or  suffer  a  sad  and  ir- 
reparable defeat.  You  may,  without  faith  in  Christ,  storm  cit-' 
ies,  win  battles,  achieve  the  independence  of  your  beloved  coun- 
try, and  gain  imperishable  renown  ;  bi.tyou  cannot  secure  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven.  Mohammed  promised  Paradise  to  all  wl  o 
should  lose  their  lives  in  his  war  ;  but  Christ  does  not  promi.-e 
eternal  life  to  them  that  fall  in  the  battles  of  their  country. 
Hef^at  would  win  a  crown  of  life,  must  gain  a  victory  over  sin. 
The  kingdom  ol God  must  be  taken  by  storm;  but  it  cante 
stormed  only  by  faith,  and  prayer,  and  obedience.  "  The  king- 
dom of  heaven  suffeieth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by 
force,"  It  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  God  will  accept 
the  services  rendered  to  Caesnr  for  those  due  to  himself ;  or, 
that  patriotism  should  be  a  substitute  for  piety.  The  heroic, 
but  ungodly  soldier,  may  fill  a  grave  honored  by  a  nation's 
tears  and  marked  by  a  towering  monument ;  but  his  soul,  alas! 
must  perish, 

I  would  have  you,  my  son,  not  only  to  be  a  Christian,  but  to 
honor  that  sacred  name.  Make  the  Bible  your  constant  com- 
panion—prayer your  delightful  em.ployment —  and  the  glory  of 
Christ  the  the  end  of  all  your  deeds.  Seek  to  be  adorned  with 
all  the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  and  to  abound  in  all  the  fruits  of 
righteousness.  Keep  aloof  from  all  the  vices  which  corrupt  and 
degrade  the  army.     1  need  not  warn  vou  aoT!in  =  t  profanity.,  tbnt 


TO  HER    SOLDIER    BOY.  O 

common  but  ill  bred  sin,  which  you  have  been  tanght  to  dcteirt; 
but  I  would  Fpecially  p,uard  you  against  drunkenneFP,  that 
most  insidious,  pievaJcnt  ami  dcpardir.g  vice.  I  would  have 
you  abstain  from  strong  drink  as  you«ivould  from  henbane. 
All  experience  has  demonstrated  that  it  is  never  nercespary 
but  as  a  medicine.  All  the  toils,  exposures  and  privations  of  a 
campaign  maybe  endure<l  without  it,  and  better  without  it  Ihrn 
with  it. 

I  am  sure,  my  child,  you  will  not  be  a  wor.sesoldier  for  being 
a  good  Christian.  Piety  will  not  make  you  efieminatc  or 
cowardly.  Some  of  the  brarest  soldiers  of  the  world  have  been 
humble  Christians.  Cromwell,  Gardiner  and  Ilavelock,  thun- 
derbolts of  war,  were  as  devout  as  they  were  heroic.  Our  own 
illustrious  Wa?hing;ton  maintained  the  claims  of  Christianity, 
amid  the  demoralizing  inOuences  of  the  Revolution,  with  a  zeal 
correspondin/^'  with  the  heroism  with  which  he  fought  the  battles 
of  our  independence.  Why  should  not  the  Christ:an  be  cour- 
ageous '?  lie  has  less  cause -^o  love  life  or  dread  death  than  other 
men.  In  the  path  ofduty  he  has  nothing  to  fear.  Life  and  death 
may  be  equally  pleasing  to  hiin.  The  apostle  Paul,  in  the  pros- 
pect of  martyrdom,  could  say  :  "  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two, 
having  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ ;  which  is  far 
better,— nevertheless,  to  abide  in  the  flesh  is  more  needful  for 
you.'' 

And  now,  my  dear  soldier  boy,  I  must  take  leave  of  you, 
Pvcmember  that  you  have  a  large  share  in  my  love,  my  sym- 
pathies, and  my  prayers.  By  day  and  by  night,  you  are  in  my 
thoughts  :  and  often  the  unbidden  tear  flows  down  rny  cheek 
when  I  think  of  your  sufferings  and  dangers.  Let  me  have  joy 
of  you,  my  son,  and  I  can  have  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that 
you  are  doing  your  duty — your  whole  duty — to  your  country 
and  to  God.  I  trust  we  shall  meet  again.  I  pray  the  Father 
of  mercies  to  cover  your  head  in  the  day  of  battle.  Should  life 
be  preserved  though  the  perils  of  the  camp  and  conflict,  and  you 
be  permitted  to  return  in  triumph  to  your  home,  I  need  not 
assure  you  that  you  will  find  a  welcome,  andthatyour  presence 
will  dift'use  a  sunshine  over  our  domestic  circle  ;  and  among  all 
the  loving  hearts  that  will  greet  your  return,  none  will  be  so 
thrilled  with  delight  as  your  mother's.  And  should  you  cr.me 
back  to  my  fond  embrace,  not  corrupted  and  degrnded  by  the 


O      .  THE    SERVANTS    PRAY    FOR    YOU. 

temptations  of  camp  life,  butpuvifiei  and  adorned  by  tho  grace 
of  the  gospel,  in  answer  to  my  poor  prayers,  then  lean  exclaim 
with  the  patriarch  Jacob,  when  he  heard  that  his  favorite  son, 
Joseph,  was  living,  ifnd  raised  to  the  Viceroyship  of  Egypt,  "It 
is  enough  !"  But  should  yon  fall  in  the  stern  conflict  for  your 
country's  rights,  you  will  fill  an  honored  grave ;  and  I  humbly 
trust  that,  through  the  grace  and  righteousness  of  our  Redeem- 
er, we  may  meet  in  a  world,  where  wars  and  i-umors  of  wars 
can  never  disturb  us;  but  where  love,  peace,  and  joy,  forever 
reign.  Tt  shall  be  my  earnest  endeavor,  as  I  entreat  you  that 
it  may  be  yours,  to  be  meet  for  a  participation  in  the  delights 
and  glories  of  that  world.  Receive  now  the  blessing  of  your 
own  and  only 

Mother. 


THE  SERVANTS  PRAY  FOR  YOU. 


A  respected  Baptist  Minister  of  Alabama,  thus  writes  : 
As  is  my  custom,  I  preached  to  the  colored  people  in  the  af- 
ternoon of  last  Lord's  day,  and  after  the  se^rmon  I  called  upon 
William  Pitts,  servant  of  Col.  D.  A.  Boyd,  to  close  the  services. 
Jlc  arose  at  the  call— ^as  he  always  does*,  and  after  a  few  re- 
marks, complimenting  the  sermon  and  exhorting  the  congre- 
g.ition  to  heed  the  warning  given,  he  stated  that  there  was  an- 
other matter  about  which  l;c  would  like  to  speak  to  them. 
He  then  stated  that  some  of  their  masters  and  young  masters 
had  gone  off  to  the  wars,  and  that  they  were  exposed  to  many 
hardships  and  sufferings  ;  that  some  of  the  soldiers  vvere  poor 
and  needy,  and  he  wanted  to  do  something  for  them  ;  that  he 
had  conversed  with  others,  and  he  desired  everyone  to  throw 
in  a  little,  if  it  was  but  a  dime. 

William  then  referred  to  the  recent  battle  of  Manassas,  and 
spoke  of  the  wounded  and  slain  in  n  most  feeling  manner.  But 
the  most  touchiuP'  of  all  was  his  reference  to  his  master  William 


THE    SERVANTS    PRAY    FOK     YOU.  7 

—the  gallant  Lieut.  Win.  D.  Pitts,  who  fell  iu  ihe  engagement. 
Ho  spoko  of  having  raiiied  him;  of  the  many  convcrsationa  they'd 
had  together  ;  of  his  feelings  when  ho  now  lookod  over  his  plan- 
t,ations,  and  witnessed  the  sadness  and  deep  mourning  that  now 
tilled  the  hearts  of  his  weeping  servants.  During  his  remarks, 
there  were  to  be  heard  groans  and  sobbing  all  around,  and  tears 
to  be  seen  (lowing  freely  from  many  eyes.  So  much  feeling,  [ 
have  seldom  witnessed  on  any  occasion.  At  the  close  of 
his  rcmarKs  there  was  a  general  rush  to  the  table— and,  in  half- 
dimes  and  dimes,  they  contributed  live  dollars  and  sixty-five 
cents. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  an  old  woman  belonging  to  Capt, 
Clark,  who  was  not  at  the  church,  having  heard  what  was  done 
there,  came,  to  my  house  and  handed  mo  lifty  cents — stating 
that  she  could  not  be  at  church,  but  "felt  like  s'-e  wanted  t^o 
do  something  for  the  poor  soldiers."  She  spoke  of  how  tender- 
ly some  of  them  had  been  raised,  and  how  she  fult  for  them 
when  she  heaid  of  the  hardships  they  had  to  sutfer.  She  then 
told  me  much  about  her  master,  and  how  sho  prayed  that  ho 
might  be  bought  back  safe,  &c. 

It  is  due  to  the  colored  people  to  state  that  but  very  few- 
knew  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to  raise  means  to  help  on  tho 
the  war,  and  consequently  many  were  unprepared  to  do  any 
thing.  Indee^l,  1  did  not  know  it  myself  :  I  only  knew  that  the 
subject  had  been  spoken  of  by  a  few  individuals. 

And  now  permit  me  to  say,  in  conclusion,  that  I  have  wit- 
nessed more  feeling  in  behalf  of  the  company  that  kft  this 
place,  among  the  colored  people  when  prayer  has  been  offered 
for  them  in  their  afternoon  meetings,  than  I  have  seen  among 
the  whites.  They  are  feeling  deeply  for  their  masters  who 
have  gone  in  defence  of  the  country,  and  are  praying  for  their 
8a f&  return. 


CHRISTIAN   WARFARE. 


.1    Soldiers  of  Christj  arise, 

And  put  your  armor  on, 
Strong  in  the  strength  which  God  snppliei- 

Through  his  eternal  Son  ; 

2  Strong  in  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 

And  in  his  mighty  power  ; 
Who  in  the  strength  of  Jesus  trusts, 
Is  more  than  conqueror,  *■ 

3  Stand  then  in  his  great  might, 

With  all  his  strength  endued  ; 
But  take,  to  arm  you  for  the  fight, 
The  panoply  of  God  : 

4  Tha^.  having  all  things  done, 

And  all  your  conflicts  past, 
You  may  o'ercome,  through  Christ  alone, 
And'  stand  entire  at  last. 

5  From  strength 'to  strength  go  on, 

Wrestle,  and  fight,  and  pray 
Tread  all  the  powers  of  darkness  down. 
And  Avin  the  well-fought  day. 

G  Still  let  the  Spirit  cry 

In  all  his  soldiers,  ''Come," 

Till  Chistthe  Lord  descend  from  high 
And  take  the  conquerors  home* 


HoUinger  Corp. 
pH  8.5 


